Detection of Myocoptes musculinus in Fur Swab and Fecal Samples by Using PCR Analysis

Current methods for detecting mites in mouse colonies have limitations in terms of cost, accuracy, and throughput. To address these limitations, we developed PCR assays to detect Myocoptes musculinus in fecal samples. Using a newly generated ribosomal RNA sequence of M. musculinus (MC28S), we developed PCR and qPCR assays capable of detecting M. musculinus mites or eggs ingested during grooming. To determine our ability to detect mites, we tested fur swabs and feces from mouse colonies experimentally infested with M. musculinus and Demodex musculi, 2) Myobia musculi and Radfordia affinis, 3) M. musculinus and M. musculi, and 4) no mites (negative control). The MC28S PCR and qPCR assays positively identified M. musculinus in groups 1 and 3. The MC28S PCR assay detected M. musculinus in 9 of 10 fecal samples from known-positive animals, whereas the qPCR assay correctly identified M. musculinus in all 10 fecal samples. To our knowledge, this report is the first description of PCR-based detection of murine mites in feces. By eliminating the need for pelt examinations, mite detection from fecal samples can facilitate mite detection in sentinel or quarantine programs.